Fork lift truck with a single front wheel

ABSTRACT

A fork lift truck ( 10 ) has a truck body ( 12 ), a lift mechanism ( 14 ) connected to the truck body ( 12 ) by means of a vertically extending pivot ( 52 ) and means ( 24 ) for turning the lift mechanism ( 14 ) relative to the truck body ( 12 ) about said pivot ( 52 ) to steer the truck ( 10 ), the truck body ( 12 ) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels ( 16 ) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism ( 14 ) having a single ground engaging front wheel ( 40 ) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel ( 40 ) having independent drive means ( 44, 46 ).

This application is a national stage completion of PCT/GB2004/002242filed May 26, 2004 which claims priority from British Application SerialNo. 0312343.7 filed May 30, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fork lift trucks of the kind designedfor use in narrow aisles of warehouses and the like, where the truck isto deposit loads in and remove loads from the face of a stack, in adirection transverse to the length of the aisle, that is at right anglesto the face of the stack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to maximise the storage area of a warehouse, it is desirable tomake the aisles of the minimum width possible. The aisles must howeverbe wide enough to permit the manoeuvring of fork lift trucks to deposita load in or remove a load from the stacks.

In order to improve the manoeuvrability of the fork lift trucks and thusreduce the aisle width, GB 2234214, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference thereto, discloses a fork lift truckwith two parts that are pivoted together. The rear part comprises atruck body which carries the driver, propulsion unit and counterweightsto balance loads carried by a lifting mechanism mounted on the frontpart. A pair of driven wheels are provided on the truck body and a pairof non-driven wheels are provided on the front part, as close aspossible to the load bearing part of the lift mechanism. The truck issteered by turning the front part relative to the truck body, about thepivot axis.

In order to permit loads to be deposited or removed from the stacks atright angles to the aisles, the front part is preferably capable ofbeing turned at 90° or more to the truck body. As the front wheelsapproach 90°, the drive from the rear wheels will cause the front wheelsto slide sideways along the aisle, rather than steering the trucktowards the position in the stack into which a load is to be depositedor from which a load is to be removed.

In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed, for example asdisclosed in GB 2263088 or GB 2255941, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference thereto, to provide differential driveto the rear wheels, in order to produce a steering effect.

A more effective approach, as disclosed in GB 2265344 and EP 1201596,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, hasbeen to drive the front wheels, instead of or in addition to the rearwheels. However in order to provide stability, it is necessary for theweight distribution in this type of lift truck to be very much to therear of the truck. It is consequently necessary with front wheel drivesystems of this type, to provide an articulated front axle to ensurethat both front wheels remain in driving engagement with the floor, inspite of irregularities in the floor surface. This will generate furtherstability problems, particularly with elevated loads and in practicearticulation of the front axle must be limited to provide a maximumupward and downward movement of each wheel, of about 25 mm. Even whenthe front axle is articulated in this manner, wheel spin is libel tooccur if there are variations in the floor surface in excess of 20 mm in1.5 m, which is typical for a newly laid warehouse floor.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a fork lift truckcomprises a truck body, a lift mechanism connected to the truck body bymeans of a vertically extending pivot and means for turning the liftmechanism relative to the truck body about said pivot to steer thetruck, the truck body having a pair of rear ground engaging wheelsmounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism having a single groundengaging front wheel mounted centrally on a transverse axis,characterised in that the front wheel has independent drive means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a front wheel drive fork lift truck whichwill overcome the steering problems associated with rear wheel drivetrucks of this type. Furthermore as the single front wheel will alwaysbe in driving engagement with the floor, irrespective of irregularitiesin the surface of the floor, there is no need for articulation of thefront axle and the problems associated therewith.

The front wheel may be driven, for example by a hydraulic or electricmotor. The motor is preferably coupled directly to the wheel and themotor or a gearbox associated therewith partially built into the wheelto reduce the bulk and minimise the width of the mechanism. The powersource for the wheel motor and also for the steering mechanism by whichthe lifting mechanism is turned about the pivot and for the liftingmechanism itself, for example a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, anengine driven electrical generator or a battery pack, is housed in thetruck body. The rear wheels may also be driven in addition to the frontwheel.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frontwheel is mounted centrally on a transverse axis as far forward towardsthe load bearing part of the lifting mechanism as possible, in order tomaximise the load bearing capability of the truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fork lift truck inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the fork lift truck shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrammatic plan views of the fork lift truck shown inFIG. 1, at various stages of a manoeuvring operation;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for a three wheel drive lift truck inaccordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fork lift truck 10 comprises a truckbody 12 and lifting mechanism 14.

The truck body 12 has a pair of rear wheels 16 mounted on a common axis,which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lift truck. Thewheels 16 have solid tires 18. The truck body provides a cabin 20 havinga seat 22, steering controls 24, drive control pedals 26 and liftingcontrols 28. Means, for example, a battery pack or engine drivengenerator or hydraulic pump, for providing power to the various systemsof the truck 10 are also mounted in the truck body 12, together withcounter balance weights.

The lifting mechanism 14 comprises a telescopic mast 30 comprisingseveral rails 32, which may be moved in telescopic manner. A forkcarriage 34 is mounted on the mast 30 for movement longitudinally of therails 32. A pair of load engaging forks 36 are provided on the forkcarriage 34. Drive means (not shown), for example hydraulic motors orrams, or electric motors are provided for extending the mast and formoving the fork carriage. Furthermore, means, for example a hydraulicram (not shown) may be provided for tilting the mast 30, backwards fromthe vertical, in conventional manner.

A single front wheel 40 is mounted on the lifting mechanism 14, on afixed axle which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truckwhen in the straight ahead position. The front wheel 40 is mountedbeneath the mast 30 centrally of the lifting mechanism 14 and as farforward towards the forks 36 as possible, without fouling loads mountedon the forks 36. The wheel 40 has a solid tire 42.

An electric motor 44 is mounted coaxially of the wheel 40 and is coupledto the wheel 40 by means of a gearbox 46 which is built partially intothe hub of the wheel 40, in order to reduce the overall width of thewheel 40/motor 44/gearbox 46 unit.

The lifting mechanism 14 is pivotally connected to an arm 50 whichextends forwardly from the front of the truck body 12, by means of avertical bearing tube assembly 52. A steering mechanism, for example ahydraulic or electric motor and gear or chain mechanism, or hydraulicrams (not shown), is provided for turning the lifting mechanism 14relative to the truck body 12 under control of the steering control 24,in order to steer the fork lift truck 10.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a typical manoeuvre required to deposit or remove aload in bay 62 of a stack 60. The fork lift truck 10 is driven along anaisle 64 between two stacks 60. With the lifting mechanism 14 in thestraight ahead position, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3. As thetruck 10 approaches the bay 62, the truck 10 is manoeuvred by turninglifting mechanism 14, so that the truck body is close into the stack 60but angled away from the bay 62, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The liftingmechanism 14 is then turned towards the bay 62, while the truck 10 isdriven forward by motor 44, so that the forks 36 gradually move into thebay 62, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Eventually the forks 36 are disposedat right angles to the stack 60, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The truck 10may then be driven by motor 44, while reducing the steering angle, sothat the forks 36 enter the bay 62 at right angles to the stack, so thata load mounted thereon may be deposited in the bay 62 or a load may beremoved from the bay 62.

The fork lift truck 10 is at its least stable position when the liftingmechanism 14 is positioned at 90° to the line X-X joining the points ofcontact of the front wheel 40 and inside rear wheel 16 with the ground.In this position the load mounted on the forks 36 will produce a momentabout the line X-X. In order to balance the load carried by the truck10, the centre of gravity of the truck must be positioned as farrearwardly as possible, in order to maximise the distance y between thecentre of gravity and line X-X.

As the lifting mechanism 14 is rotated and the truck 10 is driven by themotor 44, the speed of the inside rear wheel 16 will reduce withincreasing steering angle, until when the point of intersection A of theaxis of the front wheel 40 with the axis of the inside rear wheel 16coincides with the point of contact of the inside rear wheel 16 with theground, the inside rear wheel 16 will be stationary, the truck 10pivoting about the inside rear wheel 16. When the steering angleincreases beyond this point, the inside read wheel 16 will rotatebackwards.

While in the above embodiment only the front wheel 40 is driven, in analternative embodiment, all three wheels 16,40 may be drivenindependently by individual electric motors. When all three wheels 16,40are driven in this manner, the individual electric motors are preferablyconnected to a power source, in a manner such that under the forcesgenerated by the drive applied to the front wheel 40 and outside rearwheel 16, the inside rear wheel 16 will automatically slow down as thesteering angle increases and will eventually reverse, the power to theinside rear wheel 16 being automatically diverted to one or both of theother wheels 16,40.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, electric motors 160, 162 poweringthe rear wheels 16 of a truck 10, may be connected in series, to asuitable power source 164, for example a battery or an engine drivengenerator. The electric motor 44 driving the front wheel 40, isconnected to the power source 164, in parallel with the electric motors160, 162. The power source 164 is connected to the motors 44, 160, 162,by switch means 66 by which the power may be reversed, to reverse themotors 44, 160, 162. The circuit also includes a start switch 167 andmeans 168 controlled by the drive control pedal 26, to control the speedof the motors 44, 160, 162.

With this arrangement, as the truck 10 turns, the increasing loadapplied to the inside rear wheel 16, causes the motor 60 driving thatwheel 16 to slow down. This in turn causes an increase in the current inthe circuit connecting motors 60, 62 and an increase in the torqueapplied by motor 62 to the outside rear wheel 16. The inside and outsiderear wheels 16 will thus automatically run at different speeds, as thetruck 10 turns.

According to a further embodiment, the motor 44 driving the front wheel40, may also be connected in series with the motors 60, 62 driving therear wheels 16, so that the torque applied to the front wheel 40 willalso increase, as the truck 10 turns.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the front and rear wheels 16,40are driven by hydraulic motors 70, 72, 74, respectively. The hydraulicmotors 70, 72, 74 are built into the hubs of the wheels 16,40. Hydraulicfluid is supplied under pressure to the hydraulic motors 70, 72, 74 bymeans of a hydraulic pumps 76,78 mounted in the truck body 12. Thehydraulic pumps 76,78 are driven by an internal combustion engine 80powered by a fuel gas or similar fuel. Hydraulic fluid is pumped from areservoir 82, by means of a low pressure auxiliary pump 76, to a highpressure pump 78. A distribution block 84 is provided to permitautomatic variation in the flow of hydraulic fluid to the motors 70, 72,74 to control the speed and direction of the motors 70, 72, 74, by meansof feed and return lines 86,88. Flexible hydraulic pressure hoses 90 areprovided in the hydraulic lines 86,88 between the distribution block 84and motor 70 driving the front wheel 40, in order to permit pivoting ofthe lifting mechanism 14.

The speed of the truck 10 is controlled by engine speed and adjustingthe angle of the swash plate of pump 78. The direction of motion of thetruck 10 is controlled by means of solenoids, which reverse thedirection of flow in lines 86,88 from the pump 78.

Other systems of the fork lift truck 10, for example the steering, themast extension means, lifting mechanism and means for tilting the mast,are powered by hydraulic fluid from independent source.

The hydraulic motors 72, 74 driving the rear wheels 16 of the truck 10are connected to the pump 78 in series, so that as the inside rear wheel16 slows down when the truck 10 is turning, the flow rate of fluid tothe motor 72 driving that wheel 16 will reduce, while the flow rate offluid to the motor 74 driving the outside rear wheel 16 will increase.The outside rear wheel 16 will thus be automatically driven at a speedgreater than that of the inside rear wheel 16.

The hydraulic motor 70 driving the front wheel 40 may be connected tothe pump 76 in series with the motors 72 and 74, or may be connected tothe pump 78 or a separate pump, by a separate, parallel hydrauliccircuit.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention.For example while in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1to 5, an electric motor is used to drive the front wheel, a hydraulicmotor or other suitable drive means may be used. Similarly, in the threewheel drive embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, theelectric or hydraulic motors may be replaced by other suitable drivemeans.

The present invention is also applicable to pedestrian operated forklift trucks in which the operator walks behind the truck.

1. A fork lift truck (10) comprising a lift truck body (12), a liftmechanism (14) connected to the lift truck body (12) by means of avertically extending pivot (52) and means (24) for turning the liftmechanism (14) relative to the lift truck body (12) about said pivot(52) to steer the lift truck (10), an arm (50) extending from the lifttruck body (12), a remote end of the arm (50) being coupled to the pivotassembly (52) such that the arm (50) distances the lift mechanism (14)from the turning means (24) and the lift truck body (12), the lift truckbody (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted ontransverse axes, without any drive means being provided for driving therear wheels (16), and the lifting mechanism (14) only having a singleground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis,wherein a sole drive means (40, 46) is drivingly connected to the frontwheel (40) only for driving the lift truck (10).
 2. The fork lift truck(10) according to claim 1 wherein the lift mechanism (14) is pivoted tothe lift truck body (12) at a steering angle of substantially 90° ormore.
 3. The fork lift truck (10) according to claim 1 wherein the frontwheel (40) is positioned forwardly of the pivot connection (52) betweenthe lift truck body (12) and the lifting mechanism (14).
 4. The forklift truck (10) according to claim 1 wherein the front wheel (40) ispositioned as far forward as possible towards a load bearing part (36)of the lifting mechanism (14).
 5. The fork lift truck (10) according toclaim 1, wherein the single ground engaging front wheel (40) is drivenby one of an hydraulic . and an electric motor (44).
 6. The fork lifttruck (10) according to claim 5, wherein the motor (44) is connected tothe front wheel (40) by a gearbox (46).
 7. The fork lift truck accordingto claim 5, wherein at least one of the motor (44) and the gearbox (46)is built partially into a hub of the front wheel (40).
 8. The fork lifttruck according to claim 5, wherein the power for the motor (44) isprovided by one of an engine (80) driven generator, a hydraulic pump(76,78), and a battery pack (64).
 9. The fork lift truck according toclaim 8, wherein the engine (80) is an internal combustion enginepowered by fuel gas.
 10. A fork lift truck (10) only having a singledrive means (44, 46) and three ground engaging wheels, the fork lifttruck comprising a lift truck body (12) and a lift mechanism (14)connected to the lift truck body (12) by a vertically extending pivot(52), the lift truck body (12) having steering controls (24) for turningthe lift mechanism (14), relative to the lift truck body (12), about thepivot (52), and steering the fork lift truck (10) during operation ofthe fork lift truck (10), an arm (50) extending from the lift truck body(12), a remote end of the arm (50) being coupled to the pivot assembly(52) such that the lift mechanism (14) is remote from the truck liftbody (12) and the steering controls (24), the lift truck body (12) onlyhaving a pair of nondriven rear ground engaging wheels (16) and thelifting mechanism (14) only having a single front ground engaging wheel(40), the vertically extending pivot (52) being located between the pairof rear ground engaging wheels (16) and the single front ground engagingwheel (40) and the single drive means (44, 46) drives the fork lifttruck (10) and the single drive means (44, 46) is only drivinglyconnected to the front wheel (40) while both of the rear wheels beingnondriven.
 11. A fork lift truck (10) only having a single drive (44,46) and three ground engaging wheels, the fork lift truck comprising alift truck body (12) and a lift mechanism (14), an arm (50) extends fromthe lift truck body (12) and has a remote end coupled to a verticallyextending pivot assembly (52), the lift truck body (12) having steeringcontrols (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14), relative to the lifttruck body (12), about the pivot assembly (52), and steering the forklift truck (10) during operation of the fork lift truck (10), the lifttruck body (12) only having a pair of nondriven rear ground engagingwheels (16) and the lifting mechanism (14) only having a single frontground engaging wheel (40), the vertically extending pivot assembly (52)couples the remote end of the arm (50) and the lift mechanism (14) andholds the front ground engaging wheel (40), and only the single frontground engaging wheel (40) being driven by the single drive (44, 46) formaneuvering the lift truck (10) while both of the rear wheels alwaysbeing nondriven.
 12. The fork lift truck according to claim 11, whereinthe fork lift truck (10) is only driven by the drive (44, 46), which isonly connectable with the single front ground engaging wheel (40), suchthat only the single front ground engaging wheel (40) drives the forklift truck (10).